In late February of 2013, Stéphane Hessel passed away at the ripe age of 95, and unless you have some knowledge of French history, particularly during the Second World War and the Résistance, his name will not ring a bell.
Stéphane Hessel was born in Germany in 1917 of a gentile mother and Jewish father. He became a French citizen in 1939 at which point, refusing to flex to the antisemitic demands of the Vichy government, he fled to London to serve under Général DeGaulle and eventually joined the Résistance Française in 1944. Hessel was captured by the Gestapo and sent to the camps of Dora and Buchenwald were he was tortured. He escaped while being transferred to the Bergen-Belsen camp.
The next sixty years would see Hessel become a diplomat, a human rights activist, an ambassador and towards the end of his life, in late 2010, the author of the controversial pamphlet Indignez-vous! (Time for Outrage!). This very short pamphlet on peace and social justice turned out to be an all-out propaganda piece for the Palestinian cause and against the “Israeli war machine”. Hessel calls Hamas terrorists acts, simple acts of “exasperation” and claims that terrorism is a “misnomer” when applied to Hamas (p. 9).
Using his past notoriety as a member of the Resistance, Hessel even chose to compare Hamas to the very same French Resistance and Israel to the Nazi regime, according to French author Guy Millière. While I don’t doubt that Mr. Hessel acted with bravery during WWII, I find this rather embarrassing and self-deprecating for a man who is half Jewish. There are no laurels large enough to rest on as one dispenses these kinds of diatribes. Of course, France never ceases to surprise me on how low it can get when it comes to the denigration of Israel and the support of those whose raison d’être is actually a raison to cease from being as they offer themselves into martyrdom for Palestine.
Two years ago, in an interview with German newspaper Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung, Hessel was quoted saying: « If I may risk a daring parallel with matters I am involved with, I’ll say this : the German occupation (of France) was, if one is to compare it, for instance, with the current occupation of Palestine by Israelis, a rather mild one, excepted for some unusual facts like arrests, internment, executions, or the looting of works of art. »
More than a daring parallel, such a statement is a major slap in the face of world history not to mention the Jewish psyche. Not only Hessel compares Israelis to Nazis but he also belittles the Shoah and the Nazi occupation by describing the events as “mild”, thus virtually eradicating any guilt and responsibility from Nazi Germany.
Such an outrageously antisemitic statement should have instantly ruined anybody’s reputation regardless of their heroic past, but this took place in postmodern, politically correct France, where moral decay has become a national sport!
On March 7, President François Hollande honored Stéphane Hessel as a great hero of the French Republic at the Invalides Plaza in Paris ( the resting place of people like Napoleon), with pomp and circumstance. I sincerely doubt that many French citizen did object to that political parade, but Mr. Hollande should be very careful in deciding who he honors.
It was just one year ago that Islamist Mohammed Merah killed seven people, including a rabbi and three Jewish students in Toulouse, before taking his own life. The Merah Affair hit France during the presidential elections and as it played out, became the problem of newly elected François Hollande. Mr. Hollande has been seen at three different events in regards to the Merah Affair (the last one being March 17, 2013 on its first anniversary). The French President claims to have been affected and of being greatly concerned about the state of antisemitism in France. I think that such a statement is commendable, but only if followed by actions against the oldest hatred. Unfortunately, if the only recent action against antisemitism from the current French president is to honor the memory of a man who thinks that the Nazi occupation of France was a mild event in history, I fear for the Jews of France!
I also fear that Mr. Hollande has shown that he cannot really be trusted when it comes to the protection of the French Jewish community. Additionally, through some of his recent choices, he appears to be encouraging judeophobia.
Again, I do not wish to disregard the many years that Mr. Hessel spent serving his country, but the last decade or so he spent spewing his words of hatred against my people should at least be placed in the scale before he receives such a high honor.
The late Stephane Hessel was no hero and neither is Mr. Hollande who vacillates between empty words of support for Israel and measurable actions against her. At the end of the day it is all about integrity and the will to stand for the truth. But that is already hard to do for those of us who have a personal relationship with the living God of the universe through the death and resurrection of Yeshua of Nazareth for their sins, so why am I surprised about the actions of those who do not know Him? They can certainly use our prayers though!
Islamophobia and Judeophobia: Comparing Apples to Oranges!
This week has seen the start of a new campaign on the San Francisco bus system (as well as Washington DC and Chicago). The Campaign was produced by the American Freedom Defense Initiative under the leadership of anti-sharia activist Pamela Geller.
This campaign is the second one produced by Ms. Geller to expose radical Islam and jihad. It comes less than a year after she raised more than a few eyebrows comparing jihadist Muslims to “savages” and encouraging people to support Israel. The response that some of her previous ads garnered in the New York subway included some counter ads placed by the United Methodist Women, a Christian denomination known for its open criticism of Israel and supersessionist approach to the Bible ( the erroneous belief that the Christian Church has replaced Israel in God’s plan also known as Replacement Theology).
Ms. Geller’s rightful concern in placing the ads was due to the danger posed by the ongoing brainwashing of the American people regarding the real meaning of the word Jihad. The watering down of the definition of the word should cause us great concern. As bold, unsettling and politically incorrect as the ads are, they address a very serious issue. I wish I could say that such public displays were not necessary to convey her message, but lately it appears that nobody is listening to reason anymore.
The ad campaign features some very famous faces or organizations in Islam that are all quoted on their respective billboards, making a statement related to what Islamic Jihad is. Osama Bin Laden, Hamas, Turkish Prime Minister Recep Erdogan, the Fort Hood terrorist and several others. This campaign is a response to an earlier CAIR campaign titled “myjihad” an attempt to redefine the word jihad into a word that carries the meaning of ” struggle for peace, diversity, tolerance and coexistence”, in other words nothing violent or lethal. IF THIS IS NOT A CASE OF BLATANT FALSE ADVERTISING, I DON’T KNOW WHAT IS!
Originally, the word Holocaust used to carry the definition of “burnt offering by fire”. It has obviously suffered an etymological mutation at the hands of Nazi Germany to the point where it absolutely cannot be used any other way than to describe the systematic attempt at the destruction of European Jewry by Nazis.
I believe that the same can be said about the word jihad. There is very little positive meaning if any left in the word since radical Islam has taken ownership of it and used it to claim their barbaric murders of innocent people around the world. That is too bad for the Muslims who want to use the word in a more conservative way, I don’t think that they are promoting Islam in any positive light by claiming any kind of “jihad” or “struggle.
But I was also shocked when I heard San Francisco District Attorney George Gascon say that:
” San Francisco won’t tolerate Islamophobic bigotry” and then go on to quote Edmund Burke and say that: “The only thing necessary for evil to prevail is for good men to do nothing.”, apparently calling the San Francisco community to respond against this terrible display of Islamophobia, and implying that the evil was done by Ms. Geller and her organization when they simply are trying to expose the virulent enemy of Israel. Yet another case of role reversal!
Looking deeper at the issue of the differences and similarities if any, between Islamophobia and Judeophobia, one can honestly come to the conclusion that we are not comparing apples to apples.
For as long as anti-Semitism has existed man has tried to re-define it. Re-defining or fine tuning our definition of anti-Semitism is not necessarily a bad thing as we have come to the realization that even though it is based on a basic illogical hatred of the Jewish people, anti-Semitism has evolved. But then again, evolution always has a connotation of progress and improvement so it would be better to say that anti-Semitism has morphed.
Even though the “oldest hatred” has been repackaged, it continues to target the Jews as a people. The bag of tricks used by anti-Semites the world around contains stereotypes and libelous accusations that go back centuries to pretty much the closing of the biblical record. From “Christ Killers” to “Well Poisoners” and from “stingy” to “bloodsucking”, the Jewish people are the perennial recipients of the ills of mankind, making them the perfect candidates for the title of “scapegoats of humanity.”
If a Jew is a good business person he/she could be accused of being “stingy” or “rapacious”, if they are struggling financially, they could be seen as being a burden to society. If a Jewish politician is successful, he or she might be accused of trying to take over the world, if they fail, their party’s shortcomings become their responsibility.
In today’s postmodern era where the New Anti-Semitism reigns, IF YOU ARE JEWISH AND MAKE ANY MOVE, DAMNED IF YOU DO AND DAMNED IF YOU DON’T!
This attitude from most of the world where no matter where the Jew stands, he is in the way, is the epitome of real anti-Semitism. It is a hatred of the people individually and/or corporately, unfortunately unaffected by the value of their actions. THAT IS JUDEOPHOBIA!
Trying to define islamophobia in contradistinction to Judeophobia is most likely the safest approach since both displays of hatred are very different. Judeophobia aims at the Jews whoever, whenever and wherever they are, simply because they are part of the Jewish people as a whole and all this in complete defiance of any logic or truth.
On the other hand, Islamophobia is the fear and often hatred of not a religion and even less a people but an ideology. If some people end up hating Muslim people simply because they belong to Islam and since radicals have given them [Muslims] such a bad rep that now they feel that “all Muslim should be hated”, then I say: “shame on you!”
Muslims are people first and I believe that they actually are the first victims of radical Islam. Political correctness would have you believe otherwise of course.
Islamophobia, like the word jihad, suffers from a false definition that forces people to believe that Islamophobes are all racists. I couldn’t disagree more, yet I fear radical Islam and I can even say I hate it, but not the people. THAT IS GENUINE ISLAMOPHOBIA!
But as a human being in general and a follower of Yeshua of Nazareth in particular, I want nothing else for all Muslims than to experience the love of the Messiah of Israel and Savior of the world, Yeshua (Jesus). You might say that I am a big dreamer but I will tell you that I quit dreaming long time ago and I started praying, because after all, our God loves all people and He is big enough to change all hearts.
Holocaust Deniers Beware!
Statements like: “I am not so sure that the French Revolution really took place” or “I often wonder if Hiroshima wasn’t an invention to get the attention of the world community”would never be taken seriously by bona fide historians. These are as ludicrous as saying that the Holocaust never happened or that it was hugely exaggerated. Unfortunately, the past seventy years have seen their share of pseudo-historians and Holocaust revisionists as well as deniers. The effort they had to put into erasing such an event from the chronicles of modern history should discourage them but they kept going with their revisionism coupled with various conspiracy theories about the Jews controlling the world banks, governments, media outlets and of course Hollywood.
When we line up the infamous culprits in Holocaust denial, it takes no time to realize that their common denominator is the delegitimization of Israel and complete eradication of worldwide Jewry, a lethal by-product of anti-Semitism.
Take Louis Farrakhan, the leader of Nation of Islam for instance. While he is not much of a role model to the vast majority of Americans, he was recently quoted saying:
1. Holy Day of Atonement Keynote Address, Part 2, Mosque Maryam, Chicago, Illinois 10/21/12
What Do Seth MacFarlane and Martin Luther Have in Common?
To many of us, prior to the 2013 Oscar Ceremony, the name “Seth MacFarlane” meant very little. As a matter of fact, the man is widely unknown to most people 35 and older, unless you are part of the entertainment industry. MacFarlane is the creator and the many voices behind the cartoon “Family Guy” that contains nothing I could recommend for family viewing. He is also the director, writer and producer of the recent movie “Ted” starring Mark Wahlberg and an animated nymphomaniac teddy bear with a very dirty mouth. No, I have not turned my blog into a movie review platform, but since I need to bring our attention to MacFarlane’s pathetic Oscar performance, I felt it necessary to list some of his credentials.
I used to await Oscar night with great anticipation when movies were still made to make us think, laugh and cry. The ceremony seldom disappointed, as it was always a perfectly well balanced blend of wit, class and wholesome entertainment. This last Sunday, I did not watch the Oscars, primarily because I had only seen two movies that made the list and I felt a big disconnect between what Hollywood praises and what I consider worth watching.
The morning after, a plethora of articles and YouTube snippets were a testimony to the horrendous hosting job done my Seth MacFarlane. In short, he bombed! His jokes included some extremely disturbing comments on weight gain, sex, gays, blacks, Lincoln’s assassination, Hispanics, pedophilia, and of course Jewish people. None of those topics should ever be used as joke material and hopefully, Hollywood will have learned to choose their host more carefully next time (I do not hold my breath though). While I abhor all these racist and sexist jokes that are usually only used to cover-up for lack of real comedic talent, let me now turn to a skit involving Mark Wahlberg and Ted the teddy bear.
The Sting of Antisemitism: What We Can Learn from Europe
I left Paris 28 years ago and decided to make America my home. Back then; the dream of being successful, respected and appreciated in the “Land of Opportunity” was a major reason why I left my “Old Europe” behind.
All these crimes were committed by “devout” Muslims, and while it must be re-iterated that NOT ALL MUSLIMS ARE JEW KILLERS, the last 9 deaths of Jewish people in France were all at the hands of radical Muslims.
So, what can the United-States learn from the state of Antisemitism in Europe? As I see it, there are only three options: Ignore, move-out, or fight back!
1. Can we IGNORE Antisemitism?
This question obviously begs for only one kind of answer: NO! Yet when we look around and witness the reactions of the media, government agencies and political figures, one is to wonder how much the world really cares about the monster of Judeophobia.
French President Jacques Chirac in an interview with the New York Times in 2002 said:
“To imagine that France, the very first country to recognize the rights of Jews, could be Antisemitic, is propaganda, not reality”
What color was the sky in your world Mr. Chirac? Well, to be fair, I must also mention that Mr. Chirac within a year after that statement, felt like adding that: “Attacking a Jew in France is an attack on all of France”. Wow, quite a different statement from someone who one year prior declared that Antisemitism didn’t exist in his country!
Nicolas Sarkozy has done very little to combat “La Nouvelle Judeophobie” as French author Pierre-André Taguieff calls it. His relations with Netanyahu took a turn for the worse when he was recorded calling him a liar in a conversation he had with President Obama.
As for François Hollande, he has the remainder of his 5 year mandate to “put his money where his mouth is”, so to speak. As Europe continues to ostracize Jews in Denmark, Sweden, Great Britain, Italy, Hungary and Spain to list just a few European countries, France, far from being immune to the “oldest hatred” is going to have to realize that antisemitism CANNOT BE IGNORED.
As for us in the United-States, it is time we stop pointing the finger across the ocean to denigrate “those antisemites” on the other side, because we have plenty of work to do in our own backyard.
Campus antisemitism is on the rise all across the country and remains basically unchallenged if not encouraged in some cases by school officials and the media.
Muslim enclaves such as the Dearborn, Michigan are promoting hate and violence against Jews (and Christians for that matter). It has now become dangerous to walk some areas of Dearborn if you are Jewish, Christian or even slightly pro-Israel.
As much as we try to define and re-define the commonalities and differences between Antisemitism, anti-Israelism and anti-Zionism, we need to accept that they are all rooted in a hatred for the worldwide Jew whoever he/she might be, wherever he/she might live, and whatever he/she might have done. The Boycott Divestment & Sanctions (BDS) movement is a perfect symptom of that chronic disease. SIMPLY PUT, WE CANNOT IGNORE ANTISEMITISM.
2. Should Natives MOVE OUT Because of Antisemitism?
Great Britain has one of the most virulent Muslim communities in Western Europe. Muslim leaders such as Anjem Choudary who was behind the organization known as “sharia4UK”are very vocal proponents of Sharia implementation. Choudary has publicly proclaimed that sharia in the UK and the US is inevitable, but only a matter of time:
“I am 100 percent certain that the sharia will be implemented in America and in Britain one day. The question is, ‘when?’ and how it will come to fruition.”2
3. Should We Fight Against Antisemitism?
I have come to the very sad realization that most people don’t bother fighting against Antisemitism. It is too often ignored for lack of understanding or even worse, because of of a chronically apathetic condition of our postmodern society.
While I frankly believe that the last 2000 years should serve as our teacher, if antisemitism still need to be defined, it is our responsibility to do so. But defining is only the first step, because once we have identified the problem and its source(s), it is incumbent on us to develop the tools and platforms to fight Antisemitism.
Various organizations have sprung up in the last few decades in Europe to keep track, report and fight Antisemitism. Their work is tedious and emotionally draining, yet critical. They keep us all abreast of what is happening.
We should also be aware of the history of the Jewish people through the lens of Antisemitism and I could recommend the reading of one book to start, and that is the superb work by Catholic priest Edward Flannery dated back to 1965 “The Anguish of the Jews”. 3
Additionally, we should speak up when we witness either words or deeds against the Jewish people. It should concern us as much as it concerns them. Reporting to the authorities is also necessary even if we feel that little might be done. IF WE DON’T SPEAK UP, WHO WILL?
Europe should serve as a barometer for Antisemitism. We Americans can no longer ignore the gravity of the situation or try to convince themselves that it is Europe’s problem not ours. We cannot ignore or move-out, and we must fight back!
In a few days on the 14th of Adar (Feb 24, 2013), Jewish people around the world will celebrate the Feast of Purim and remember how a loving and just God protected the children of Israel against the enemy Persian Empire. The Book of Esther will be read in synagogues and we will be reminded that Esther was brave enough to speak up on behalf of her people.
It doesn’t matter if you are Jewish or not, but as you realize that the welfare of Israel and the Jewish people is at stake, you must do your part and speak up. After all it isn’t just the welfare of the Jewish people that is in danger but also the welfare of western civilization as a whole. I would like to believe that in preserving western civilization, we also carve a place of respect for those of Muslim upbringing who want to live with us in harmony. Anything less would be unbiblical.
2. Anjem Choudary on CBN News World: UK Islamist Leader:Islam will dominate America (Aug. 2012) http://www.cbn.com/cbnnews/world/2012/August/UK-Islamist-Leader-Islam-Will-Dominate-America/.
3. Flannery, Edward: The Anguish of the Jews: 23 Centuries of Christian Antisemitism (Quest Books, 1965)
http://www.amazon.com/The-Anguish-Jews-Edward-Flannery/dp/B000WBCBFY/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1361401310&sr=8-3&keywords=anguish+of+the+jews+flannery
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